recurrent thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recurrent thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe thoughts that occur repeatedly or frequently in someone's mind. Example: "She often found herself lost in recurrent thoughts about her childhood experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

All of these people are vulnerable to self-pity and recurrent thoughts about death.

The New York Times

Coming across a list of the symptoms of depression, he ticks off four: insomnia; feelings of worthlessness; diminished ability to think; recurrent thoughts of suicide.

The Guardian - Books

These include unintentional weight gain or loss, problems sleeping, agitation or slowed reactions noticed by others, fatigue and low energy, feelings of excessive guilt or worthlessness, difficulty concentrating and recurrent thoughts of death.

The New York Times

Severe depression is characterized by despondency, diminished interest in most or all activities, weight fluctuation not due to dieting, disruption in sleep patterns, psychomotor agitation or retardation, feelings of worthlessness, excessive quiet, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Symptoms of depression may include sleep disturbance (usually early morning awakening), fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions, agitation (anxiety or restlessness) or slowed movements, change in appetite with or without weight loss, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Serious depression may even lead to recurrent thoughts of death and suicidal ideation.

Sports Medicine - Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Egas Moniz observed that certain psychoses, particularly schizophrenia and severe paranoia, involve recurrent thought patterns that dominate normal psychological processes.

Britannica

As Thanksgiving approaches and I watch the dire economic situation in Detroit unfold,  I keep having a recurrent thought:  Washington must try to prevent economic disaster for Michigan workers, but GM executives should get their gooses cooked.

Huffington Post

These might be especially effective in reducing repetitive thought processes, by learning to emotionally disengage from recurrent negative thoughts instead of letting them affect one's mood.

Cognitive Therapy and Research

The OCD is characterized by intrusive and recurrent obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that are engaged to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday that the agency had approved the drug for treating recurrent suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts in patients with schizophrenia, a devastating illness that afflicts 1 of 100 Americans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing mental health symptoms, use "recurrent thoughts" to accurately portray repetitive thought patterns associated with conditions like depression or OCD.

Common error

Avoid using "recurrent thoughts" to describe general overthinking or brainstorming. The term specifically refers to thoughts that involuntarily repeat themselves, often causing distress or anxiety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recurrent thoughts" functions primarily as a noun phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically sound and commonly used to describe repetitive or persistent mental processes, particularly in contexts related to mental health and psychology.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "recurrent thoughts" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that describes repetitive or persistent mental processes. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. Predominantly found in science, news, and encyclopedic sources, this phrase is often employed to discuss mental health, psychological conditions, or personal experiences related to repetitive thinking patterns. While semantically similar alternatives like "repetitive thoughts" and "persistent thoughts" exist, "recurrent thoughts" maintains its unique emphasis on the reappearance of these thoughts. When using this phrase, it's important to differentiate it from general overthinking and reserve it for describing involuntary, repetitive thought patterns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recurring ideas

Focuses on the repetition of ideas rather than general thoughts.

repetitive thoughts

Highlights the repetitive nature of the thoughts, similar in meaning but emphasizing the repetition itself.

persistent thoughts

Emphasizes the continuous presence of the thoughts, differing in nuance from recurrence.

ongoing thoughts

Implies a continuous flow of thoughts, differing in emphasis from recurrence.

frequent thoughts

Highlights the high frequency of the thoughts, differing in emphasis from recurrence.

constant thoughts

Focuses on the unceasing nature of the thoughts, rather than their reappearance.

continuous thoughts

Suggests thoughts that never cease, diverging from the idea of reappearance.

recurrent perceptions

Highlights repeated perceptual experiences, differing from thoughts.

intrusive thoughts

Refers to unwanted thoughts, implying an unwelcome interruption.

recurrent visions

Refers to recurring visual experiences, differentiating from thoughts.

FAQs

How can I use "recurrent thoughts" in a sentence?

"Recurrent thoughts" can be used to describe repetitive patterns of thinking, often in the context of mental health or psychological experiences. For example: "The patient reported experiencing "recurrent thoughts" of worthlessness."

What are some alternative phrases for "recurrent thoughts"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "repetitive thoughts", "persistent thoughts", or "recurring ideas".

Is it correct to say "recurrent thoughts" or "recurring thoughts"?

Both "recurrent thoughts" and "recurring thoughts" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on stylistic preference.

What is the difference between "recurrent thoughts" and "intrusive thoughts"?

While both terms describe unwanted mental activity, "recurrent thoughts" simply refer to thoughts that repeat, while "intrusive thoughts" are unwanted and often distressing, disrupting the flow of normal thinking.